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seasonal · Sunday 26 July 2026 · Various 
Ossory Agricultural Show 2026
At Ossory Showgrounds · Coolfin, Rathdowney, Co. Laois
At Ossory Showgrounds · Coolfin, Rathdowney, Co. Laois
The Ossory Agricultural Show has been gathering farmers, families and curious visitors in south Laois every summer since 1898 - making the 2026 edition its 128th year. It is the kind of day out that feels genuinely rooted in place: livestock in the rings, vintage machinery gleaming in the July sun, and neighbours from across the county catching up over a bag of chips from the food stalls. If you have any interest in rural Ireland, farming heritage, or simply a good-natured, well-organised outdoor event, the Ossory Show is worth the detour.
The show runs across the Ossory Showgrounds at Coolfin, just outside Rathdowney, and the day is busy from the moment the gates open. Livestock competitions are at the heart of things - cattle, sheep, horses and poultry classes draw serious competitors from across Laois and the surrounding counties, with several acting as qualifiers for national shows.
Away from the livestock rings there is plenty to take in: vintage and modern truck displays, a dog show, horticultural classes, baking, crafts, photography and children’s competitions. One of the more dramatic spectacles is tractor pulling - high-powered machines hauling dead weight down a track, drawing loud crowds and a fair amount of diesel smoke. The Hunt Chase, run over eight to ten fences, brings teams from around Ireland and is a highlight for anyone who follows equestrian sport.
The home industries section - flowers, vegetables, baking, produce - gives the event a genuinely local feel that bigger festivals tend to lose. There are food stalls, an artisan market, and trade stands to wander through at your own pace.
Rathdowney sits in the south of Co. Laois, roughly 20 km south of Portlaoise on the R433. From Dublin (about 90 minutes), take the M7 motorway to junction 17 for Portlaoise, then head south through Abbeyleix. From Kilkenny city it is under 40 minutes via the R693. There is no direct bus service to the showgrounds; you will need a car or to arrange a lift. Parking is available on-site at the showgrounds in Coolfin - follow the show signage on the day.
Rathdowney is a quiet market town with a handful of pubs and a relaxed pace that suits the middle of a summer Sunday. The surrounding south Laois countryside - rolling farmland with the Slieve Bloom Mountains visible to the north - rewards a slow drive. There is more to see in Rathdowney and across Co. Laois.
Heading to Ossory Showgrounds in Rathdowney? Laois has plenty more to see. Read the Rathdowney area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.